“SHOULD 5% appear too small. Be thankful I don’t take it all.”
Those immortal lyrics were a sarcastic jab aimed at Her Majesty’s revenue collector and sung by the Beatles way back in 1966 in the tune Taxman. Those same sentiments appear to remain valid in Malaysia in 2025.
The target of Malaysians’ ire? Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who is deemed the “Taxman” by virtue of him helming the Finance Ministry
Apart from imposing the Sales and Services Tax (SST) which is proving unpopular, PMX has been attacked for making a muddle of the issue.
For starters, he referred to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as “General Services Tax” in a speech at the Madani Rakyat programme in Lumut, Perak on Sunday (June 15).
Such slip-up though unintended has proven costly in light of the widening trust deficit whereby detractors – both external (the opposition) and internal (from within his own political party) – are scrutinising every word that comes out of PMX’s mouth like never before.
With due respect, perhaps it is high time for PMX to take a step back from his fondness to speak off the cuff to instead read prepared script by his policy officers to minimise blunders especially on areas or topics that are not his forte.
After all, why waste the effort of his speech writers who are all funded by Malaysian taxpayers yet their work is hugely unappreciated (barely used).
Just treat this as a temporary antidote till the storm has calmed lest detractors are to capitalise on his missteps to the extent of harping on his academic past – “this is the level one can expect from a (Malay) literature graduate in managing the nation’s economy or financial matters”.
Malaysians are well aware of PMX’s past as a versatile/fiery orator but economic or financial matters are complex and cannot be easily mastered even by the subject matter experts given their constant evolving nature.
“Anwar Ibrahim proves that speaking based on a PDF is better than blabbering off the cuff,” a pro-opposition key board warrior pointed out on X in response to PMX’s purported reference to GST as “General Services Tax”.
Anwar Ibrahim membuktikan bahawa berucap berdasarkan PDF adalah lebih baik dari menyembang ikut anak tekak.
Sudahnya kantoi selama ni dia sendiri tak lepas maksud GST. Penatlah cytro nak counter lepas ni. pic.twitter.com/i7ydSisMZS
— MY 🇲🇾 🇵🇸 (@saythenameayy) June 16, 2025
“In the end, he got caught off guard for not understanding the meaning of GST himself. (Pakatan Harapan) cytros are going to have a tough time countering this.”
Also taking a potshot at PMX is former UMNO information chief Isham Jalil who teased the former for “not fully comprehending GST and SST yet dare to tell others to attend courses on the matter”.
“He claimed that GST is General Services Tax or general tax. After that he expounded that GST is a tax for everyone, ie a general tax. This is not true,” contended Isham who was once a special officer to incarcerated former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak (GST was introduced during the Najib administration).
“And he further claimed that SST is a tax on imports. If this is a slip of the tongue, we can forgive him. But this is not the case because he elaborated his understanding. This shows he doesn’t know or understand at all about GST and SST.
“What a misfortune for Malaysians to have such a Finance Minister.”
Another who gleefully attacked PMX was Tygrysku (@ashkravat) who accused the PKR president of being confused over such a fundamental issue.
“PMX said GST is General Services Tax – meaning all items are taxed at a flat rate of 6%. Clearly, he doesn’t understand and is wrong which is terrifying because he is the Finance Minister and PM who is responsible for our tax policy,” justified the netizen.
PMX kata GST tu General Services Tax — semua benda cukai pukul rata 6%. Clearly dia tak faham dan terkhilaf which is terrifying because he is the MOF and PM, people responsible for our tax policy.
Dulu tak semua benda pun kena GST and ada item zero rated juga. Fundamental issue https://t.co/sFZsAzIWwR
— Tygrysku (@ashkravat) June 15, 2025
“Even in the past, not everything was subject to GST for there were zero rated items as well. Fundamental issue.” – June 18, 2025
